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Is this a "widow maker" wheel?

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Old Nov 15, 2010 | 03:21 PM
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Is this a "widow maker" wheel?

Ford F600 :: IMG_5247.jpg picture by ctphillips - Photobucket

I am a few 1000 miles away from the truck, and this is the only picture I have that gives good detail. I need to replace the tires. My best friend is storing the truck for me until I can take the time off to fly out and drive it home.
 
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Old Nov 15, 2010 | 03:31 PM
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dosen't look like it is ... just google " split rim" to understand what a widow maker is ,,,
 
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Old Nov 15, 2010 | 03:32 PM
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It's hard to tell from the picture you have linked. As I scrolled through some of the other pictures I found a couple views of the rims from the "inside" - they may indeed be the "widowmaker" rims.
 
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Old Nov 15, 2010 | 03:35 PM
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Scroll back to picture #71. That looks like a Ford 2 piece rim to me.
 
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Old Nov 15, 2010 | 03:37 PM
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usually the "split" ring is on the raised side of the wheel and would be showing on the front wheel pic you have linked .. the back duals would have the 2 rings facing each other .. least that how my 71 dodge RV chassie is .. getting hard to find a shop that will touch a split ,, you usually wind up at a semi truck tire shop to have them done now ..
 
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Old Nov 15, 2010 | 03:40 PM
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It does not appear to be a drop-center tubeless.

It does not appear that rim on the outside of the wheel is a split ring. For this type wheel, the split ring would be on the outside. (also called "lock ring")

Thus, it may be the dreaded widow maker two piece wheel.

Image:

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/a...4&d=1220827330

From this thread:

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/7...xperience.html
 
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Old Nov 15, 2010 | 03:41 PM
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The split ring or snap ring is on the 3 piece rims. Ford's widowmaker rim is a 2 piece rim. They slide together and twist 180 deg to lock. There is no snap ring.
 
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Old Nov 15, 2010 | 03:47 PM
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What a beautiful rig! But I think it has WM's... you can see the black outer rim half and the bump where it meets the silver inner ring.

No twisting needed for mating WM's.
 
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Old Nov 15, 2010 | 03:50 PM
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Looks like someone even painted the two halves of the rims different colors.
 
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Old Nov 15, 2010 | 04:22 PM
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I just saw the inner ring painted a different color. I have some wheels to track down now...
Thanks guys!
 
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Old Nov 15, 2010 | 05:04 PM
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The way I understood it the widow maker wheel would have the ring facing outward on the front wheels. The picture with the two tone wheel ring would seem to me to not be like that. It would seem that the wheel center and outer ring on the front wheels are one in the same. Maybe I still do not understand. I have looked at plenty of pictures, nothing in person.
 
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Old Nov 15, 2010 | 05:19 PM
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From: Long Beach/Crestline, Ca
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/6...aker-rims.html ..this show the ford 2 piece in the top shot ,, the ford 3 piece in the 2nd ,, and what looks like the split ring in the 3rd pic ,,
 
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Old Nov 15, 2010 | 06:14 PM
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These might help. WM's have two halves that join in the center; split-ring wheels have a removable bead on one side. Split-ring wheels aren't so much a problem (tho some shops won't work on them).

Split Rims
 
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Old Nov 15, 2010 | 06:55 PM
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Those are widow-maker rims. A couple of you guys have it backwards.

On duals the wm joint is on the frame side of the inside wheel and on the outside of the outer wheel. Be careful working around the rear duals as the outer wheel ring isn't contained.

The dangerous half of the rim faces the frame on the front wheel since it mounts the same as the inner rear wheel.

Pictures 68 and 69 show it clearly to be wm style.
 
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Old Nov 15, 2010 | 07:10 PM
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Question

Mtflat, thank you. I thought I had schooled myself on the whole thing, but realize that not all info on the web is correct. I am searching my options. I Am trying to make contact with all the companies that can use my centers to build new 19.5-22.5 wheels. I have had 15" wheels turned into 16" by using my stock centers and having new rims welded to them. The big truck thing is new to me, but not the car/truck end of it.
 
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